Vx is the speed for the best angle of climb, used immediately after takeoff to gain maximum altitude over a horizontal distance, crucial for clearing obstacles.
Vy is the speed for the best rate of climb, used after clearing obstacles to gain maximum altitude over time, allowing for a quicker ascent to cruise altitude.
While Vx makes an aircraft higher over a short distance initially, Vy eventually leads to greater overall altitude and distance covered over longer periods.
Many pilots avoid flying at Vx due to discomfort, but practicing a proper Vx climb with an instructor is important for safely clearing obstacles as recommended by the FAA.
Let’s imagine for a moment the following hypothetical situation: Two airplanes are taking off at exactly the same moment from parallel runways. Airplane A accelerates to and climbs out at Vx while Airplane B accelerates to and climbs at Vy.
What will happen in each case?
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